Perles, who played at MSU for Duffy Daugherty in the '50s, took over the head coaching reins in 1982 following a successful pro career as defensive coordinator with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was partly responsible for the famed 'Steel Curtain' defense for the Steelers which led the team to four Super Bowl titles.

Taking over for Muddy Waters in 1982, he promised he would return State to national college football prominence, and he did, leading the Spartans to the 1987 Big Ten title with a 7-0-1 league mark and a 9-2-1 overall record. Only Notre Dame and Florida State defeated the Spartans that season, and they capped it off with a 20-17 Rose Bowl win over USC. The Spartans finished the season ranked 8th in the country.

Perles later became State's Athletic Director and banged heads with the MSU administration, eventually being forced out amidst NCAA violations which forced the team to forfeit five wins in the 1994 season. He was succeeded by Nick Saban.